Can I Get a Mortgage with Missed Payments?

If you’ve missed payments in the past — whether on a credit card, loan, or utility bill — you might be worried that it will stop you from getting a mortgage.

The truth is, you can still get a mortgage with missed payments. Lenders look at the full picture — including how long ago the missed payments occurred, how severe they were, and how your finances look today.

At Mortgage Bridge, we help clients every day who’ve had late or missed payments secure mortgage approval with the right lender. Here’s what you need to know and how to strengthen your chances.

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How Do Missed Payments Affect Your Credit Report?

Every missed payment is recorded on your credit file and can stay there for up to six years.

However, not all missed payments carry the same weight:

• A single missed payment on a phone or utility bill is less serious than several missed credit card or loan payments.
• The older the missed payment, the less impact it has.
• If you’ve since managed your credit responsibly, most lenders will take that into account.

💡 A single missed payment from two or three years ago is unlikely to stop you from getting a mortgage — especially with specialist lenders.

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What Types of Missed Payments Do Lenders Care About Most?

When lenders assess your credit report, they’ll consider what type of account you missed a payment on:

Type of Account	Lender View
Mobile / Utility bill	Often overlooked if isolated
Credit card or loan	More significant, especially if recent
Mortgage or rent	Treated seriously, but not always a deal-breaker
Car finance or personal loan	Moderate impact if payments are now up to date

They’ll also assess how long ago it happened and whether the payment is now up to date.

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Can You Get a Mortgage with Recent Missed Payments?

Yes, though it can be more challenging.

If your missed payments happened within the last 12 months, you may still be able to get a mortgage with a specialist lender, though your choice of products and rates might be more limited.

Factors that can help offset recent missed payments include:

• A larger deposit (typically 10–20%)
• Stable, provable income
• Clean bank statements showing good current conduct
• Settled or updated accounts

💡 Some lenders specialise in “light adverse” cases and can accept up to two or three missed payments within the last year.

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What If Your Missed Payments Were Over a Year Ago?

If your missed payments are over 12 months old, most lenders will take a far more lenient view — especially if you’ve maintained a good payment record since.

After two to three years, many high-street lenders may even approve you at standard rates, depending on the overall strength of your application.

💡 We’ve helped many clients secure mortgages even after multiple missed payments, provided they’ve shown consistent improvement.

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How Many Missed Payments Are Too Many?

It depends on the lender.

Specialist lenders often assess each case individually:

• 1–2 missed payments: Usually acceptable, especially if older than six months.
• 3–6 missed payments: Possible, depending on how recent and whether accounts are now up to date.
• More than 6 missed payments: May still be accepted, but lenders will likely need a larger deposit and evidence of recovery.

💡 Even if you’ve had defaults or arrears, there are lenders who can help — we explain more in our guide “Can You Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit?”

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How to Improve Your Chances of Mortgage Approval After Missed Payments

Even if your credit history isn’t perfect, there are several ways to strengthen your application:

1. Check Your Credit Report

Use a multi-agency service like Checkmyfile to see your full report from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Crediva.

• Make sure your missed payments are accurately recorded.
• Check that all current accounts show as “up to date.”
• Correct any errors or outdated information.

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2. Show Strong Current Finances

Lenders care most about your current situation. Keep your accounts well-managed:

• Avoid using overdrafts regularly.
• Pay all bills and debts on time.
• Maintain a stable monthly budget.

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3. Build a Bigger Deposit (If Possible)

A larger deposit reduces the lender’s risk and shows financial commitment. Even increasing your deposit from 5% to 10% can open up more lenders and better rates.

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4. Prepare Your Documents

Make sure you can show:

• Proof of income (payslips or tax returns)
• Recent bank statements
• Evidence of rent payments (if applicable)

This helps demonstrate your affordability and reliability, even if your credit history has a few marks.

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5. Work with a Specialist Broker

Many high-street banks automatically decline applicants with recent missed payments. However, specialist lenders assess your circumstances more flexibly.

A broker like Mortgage Bridge can:

• Identify lenders who accept recent or older missed payments
• Present your case clearly to improve approval odds
• Avoid unnecessary credit checks that could lower your score

💡 We work with lenders who manually assess applications and focus on your financial recovery, not your past mistakes.

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Can You Get a Mortgage with Missed Payments and Bad Credit?

Yes — although it may narrow your options, many lenders still offer mortgages to applicants with both missed payments and other adverse credit (like defaults, CCJs, or past arrears).

You may need:

• A higher deposit (typically 10–15%)
• Proof that the issues are resolved or under control
• Strong affordability

💡 We often secure approvals for clients with multiple missed payments, provided they can show stability in the past 6–12 months.

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Real Example: Approved After Multiple Missed Payments

A client approached us after having missed several payments on credit cards and a personal loan two years ago.

We reviewed their credit report, noted that all accounts were now settled, and matched them with a specialist lender who accepted older adverse credit.

Their application was approved with a 10% deposit — and they’re now comfortably managing their mortgage.

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How Mortgage Bridge Can Help

At Mortgage Bridge, we specialise in helping clients with missed payments, defaults, or low credit scores find suitable mortgage options.

We can:

• Review your credit report and explain your position clearly
• Recommend lenders most likely to approve your application
• Prepare your documents and manage the full process for you
• Offer advice on improving your profile for future remortgaging

Whether your missed payments were recent or years ago, we’ll help you take the next step confidently.

Let’s explore your options together.